
The Boeing 747 is one of the most recognisable aircraft in the world, with a high passenger capacity and long range. The amount of fuel that a 747 carries depends on the model and configuration. The debut version, the 747-100, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel, while the latest version, the 747-8, can carry 63,034 gallons for passenger models and 59,734 gallons for cargo models. The four engines of the 747 burn approximately 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel per hour when cruising, which equates to roughly one gallon, or four litres, of fuel every second.
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What You'll Learn
- The Boeing 747's fuel capacity varies by model, from 48,400 to 63,034 gallons
- The 747-400 model's fuel capacity was increased by 9% to 57,285 gallons
- The 747's four engines burn approximately 10-11 tonnes of fuel per hour
- The 747-8i Intercontinental model has a capacity of 63,034 gallons
- The 747-8f freighter model has a capacity of 59,734 gallons

The Boeing 747's fuel capacity varies by model, from 48,400 to 63,034 gallons
The Boeing 747 is one of the most recognizable airplanes in the world. Its long range and high passenger capacity have allowed airlines to open up new and previously unserved direct routes worldwide. The amount of fuel a 747 can carry depends on the model and configuration. The debut version, the 747-100, which first flew in 1969, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel. The next two versions, the 747-200 and 300, offered a significant improvement in fuel capacity, at 52,410 gallons.
The 747-400, which became the most popular member of the 747 family, increased fuel capacity by more than 9% to 57,284 or 57,285 gallons, depending on the source. The final 747 model, the 747-8, has the highest fuel capacity of any 747. The 747-8i Intercontinental passenger model can carry 63,034 gallons, while the 747-8f freighter model can carry 59,734 gallons.
The four engines of the Boeing 747 burn approximately 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel per hour when cruising, which equates to roughly 1 gallon (or 4 liters) of fuel every second. Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive aspect of each flight, with the aircraft burning up to 5,000 gallons during the process. The majority of the fuel is stored in the aircraft's wings, with two main fuel tanks and a reserve fuel tank in each wing, and a central wing tank in the middle.
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The 747-400 model's fuel capacity was increased by 9% to 57,285 gallons
The Boeing 747 is one of the most recognisable aircraft in the world. Its long range and high passenger capacity have allowed airlines to open up new and previously unserved direct routes worldwide. The 747's fuel capacity is not set in stone, varying among models and configurations. The debut version, the 747-100, completed its first test flight in 1969 and could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel, weighing approximately 400,000 lbs. This is nearly as much as the empty plane itself.
The 747-400 models improved upon the original 747-100, featuring further range, capacity, and fuel efficiency improvements. The model went on to become the most popular member of the 747 family and was produced in a range of subtypes, including long-range and freighter models. The 747-400's fuel capacity was increased by 9% to 57,285 gallons (216,840 litres). This equates to a maximum of 238,604 litres of fuel and a range of about 7,790 nautical miles.
The 747-400's four engines burn approximately 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel per hour when cruising, or roughly 1 gallon (approximately 4 litres) of fuel every second. This means that the 747-400 consumes approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile. At maximum seat capacity, fuel consumption is 0.01 gallons per passenger per mile. The plane burns 3,600 gallons of fuel per hour, equivalent to 60 gallons per minute.
The majority of the fuel is stored in the aircraft's wings, allowing the plane to remain balanced as the fuel funnels down into the engines symmetrically, increasing the storage capacity in the fuselage for cargo. On a 747, there are two main fuel tanks in each wing, reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections, and a central wing tank in the middle.
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The 747's four engines burn approximately 10-11 tonnes of fuel per hour
The Boeing 747 is one of the most recognisable aircraft in the world. Its long range and high passenger capacity have allowed airlines to open up new and previously unserved direct routes worldwide. The 747's four engines burn approximately 10 to 11 tonnes (3,500 gallons) of fuel per hour when cruising at altitude. This is equivalent to burning approximately 1 gallon (or 4 litres) of fuel every second. Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive part of a flight for a 747, burning up to 5,000 gallons (or 19,000 litres) during the process.
The amount of fuel burned by a 747 depends on the aircraft model and configuration. The debut version, the 747-100, which first flew in 1969, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel (approximately 183,214 litres). The next two versions, the 747-200 and 300, offered a significant improvement in fuel capacity, at 52,410 gallons. The 747-400 model further improved fuel efficiency and capacity, with a 9% increase in fuel capacity over its predecessors, at 57,285 gallons (216,840 litres). The 747-400F consumes approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile, or 3,600 gallons per hour.
The latest version, the 747-8, offers an even more impressive capacity, with a 16% increase in payload capacity. The 747-8i Intercontinental can carry 63,034 gallons (238,610 litres), while the 747-8f freighter has a fuel capacity of 59,734 gallons (226,095 litres). The 747-8i can fly 8,000 miles or more on a full tank, although this varies depending on speed, weight, and other factors.
The majority of the fuel on a 747 is stored in the aircraft's wings, with two main fuel tanks in each wing, reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections, and a central wing tank in the middle. This design helps maintain symmetry in fuel delivery to the engines and increases storage capacity in the fuselage for cargo and passengers.
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The 747-8i Intercontinental model has a capacity of 63,034 gallons
The Boeing 747 is one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world, with a long range and high passenger capacity. The amount of fuel a 747 can carry depends on the model and configuration. The debut version, the 747-100, which first flew in 1969, could carry 48,400 gallons of jet fuel. The next two versions, the 747-200 and 300, had a fuel capacity of 52,410 gallons. The 747-400, which became the most popular member of the 747 family, increased fuel capacity by more than 9% to 57,285 gallons.
The final 747 model, the 747-8, was the longest commercial aircraft produced when it arrived and offered a 16% increase in payload capacity. The 747-8 was produced in two types: the 747-8i Intercontinental, which had a maximum fuel capacity of 63,034 gallons, and the 747-8f freighter, with a capacity of 59,734 gallons.
The four engines of the 747 burn approximately 1 gallon of fuel every second when cruising at altitude, or about 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel per hour. Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive aspect of each flight, with the aircraft burning up to 5,000 gallons during the process. The majority of the fuel is stored in the aircraft's wings, with two main fuel tanks in each wing, reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections, and a central wing tank in the middle. This design helps maintain symmetry in fuel delivery to the engines and frees up space in the body for cargo and passengers.
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The 747-8f freighter model has a capacity of 59,734 gallons
The fuel capacity of a 747 depends on the model and configuration. The debut version, the 747-100, which launched in 1969, holds 48,400 gallons of jet fuel. The 747-200 and 300 models feature a fuel capacity of 52,410 gallons. The 747-400, which became the most popular member of the 747 family, has a capacity of 57,285 gallons.
The 747-8 is the latest version of the aircraft, which boasts an impressive capacity of 63,034 gallons for passenger models (747-8i) and 59,734 gallons for cargo models (747-8f). The 747-8f freighter model has a capacity of 59,734 gallons (226,095 liters or 216,846 liters according to different sources), which is an increase of more than 16% over the previous model. This equates to a range of about 7,790 nautical miles.
The four engines of the 747 burn approximately 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel per hour when cruising, which is about 3,500 to 3,600 gallons. This equates to about 1 gallon (approximately 4 liters) of fuel every second. The majority of the fuel is stored in the aircraft's wings, with two main fuel tanks in each wing, reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections, and a central wing tank in the middle. This design maintains symmetry in fuel delivery to the engine and frees up space in the body for cargo and passengers.
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Frequently asked questions
A Boeing 747 can carry approximately 63,000 gallons of fuel, which weighs about 400,000 lbs.
The 747 burns about 3,500 to 3,800 gallons of fuel per hour while cruising at an altitude. During takeoff, the most fuel-intensive part of the flight, the aircraft burns up to 5,000 gallons.
The Airbus A350, introduced in 2015, burns 2,700 gallons of fuel per hour, which is significantly less than the 747. However, the A350 carries fewer passengers.
A 747 achieves approximately 0.18 to 0.19 miles per gallon, while a car with a good mpg gets around 50. However, when comparing fuel efficiency per person, the 747 outperforms a car with only one occupant.
Yes, the exact fuel capacity varies between models. For example, the 747-400 has a capacity of 57,285 gallons, while the 747-8 Intercontinental can carry 63,034 gallons.








































